Realism in the 1800's

By: Lydia R. and Bethany T.

Realism in the 1800's

By: Lydia R. and Bethany T.

Define

Basically, realism in art and literature refers to the attempt to represent familiar and everyday people and situations in an accurate, unidealized manner. More specifically, the term "realism" refers to a literary and artistic movement of the late 1800's and early 1900's. This movement was a reaction against romanticism. Romanticism was an earlier movement that presented the world in much more idealized terms. The picture to the side is The End of the Working Day, 1886–87, by Jules Breton.

Detail

Background: Realism was mainly used in arts and literature, and became popular during the late 1800s. It was an attempt to portray people realistically by showing normal day to day activities and the hardship people had to endure.

Fun fact: Mark Twain is one of the most famous realist writers, and he used realism in his novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Legacy: The realism in art left a legacy because art around the world was influenced by it. Somewhat similar to the Hellenistic Era of art, they both showed fluid lines and real looking images, unlike the Egyptians who the higher the status the more unreal they look. Art not only around the world, but every since, have used the realism era in their artwork, and will continue to use the techniques.

Display

Jean-François Millet, The Gleaners, 1857

This painting was made to show how people work hard and how not to hide it and make it seem better.

Honoré Daumier, The Third Class Wagon, 1862–1864

This piece was made to show the hardship of traveling and immigration.

Gustave Courbet, Stone-Breakers, 1849.

This was made to show the difficulty of outdoor work, and how Americans needed to work for what they deserved.

Jean-François Millet, The Gleaners, 1857

This painting was made to show how people work hard and how not to hide it and make it seem better.

Honoré Daumier, The Third Class Wagon, 1862–1864

This piece was made to show the hardship of traveling and immigration.

Gustave Courbet, Stone-Breakers, 1849.

This was made to show the difficulty of outdoor work, and how Americans needed to work for what they deserved.